No One Here but the Fighters

Sunday Siu Nim Tau

Today’s post is really all about the video.

 

Because let’s face it, who is reading anything any more?

Easier to watch or listen. Ah yeah , multi tasking… sometimes it is okay.

Anyway, we will make this brief.

Here is a thing we talked about yesterday in class. It’s not the first time and sure as shit, it won’t be the last.

  1. kung fun movies – fun to watch? Yes. Anything to do with real martial arts training? NO.
  2. the challenge: people confuse movies martial arts with the real thing. we sigh a bit over this truth be told.
  3. Exhibit A: The Matrix neo
  4. in the movies, which ARE NOT REAL, the fight goes on and on and on, an on …. till the hero, so clearly almost at his or her limits, almost loses but finally, heroically, comes back to prevail with their last fist, breath, technique. It’s Very Exciting. Achem. Think The Smiths VS Neo.
  5. in real life, which is REAL, the fight lasts maybe a second or two. Very boring except for the fact that if you are the prevailing end, you get to go on with the rest of your life….

So the question is, once we can stop trying to emulate movie kung fu as a model for real self defense, can we learn to practice our art with great and focused intention to be a little better every time and specific to ving tsun, to do simultaneous defense and attack? Because WHY do two moves when you can do one?

Watch here.

Want to try it? Come in and try a  free class. Ask questions. Bring your best game. We got this.

The best defense? Good daily training.

No One Here but the Fighters

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Humberto, by day he works at UPS. The rest of the time, he trains ving tsun and keeps very close ties with his family.

Humberto is a senior student at the school. He’s been studying here since about 2011. Originally he came because he made a new year resolution to be more fit and because he’d seen the original Ip Man movie which really inspired him; seeing Ip Man being so focused and relaxed in so many really challenging situations.

After the film, he did his research and looked for ving tsun schools. After his first visit to the school, the atmosphere just felt right and he decided that this was the place.

What keeps Humberto going?  He says that every day there is something new to learn; Maybe adding to something you already know but you add something new to the puzzle.

He says, “I enjoy training. I came here to learn to fight but in time that changed. Now I see that isn’t about fighting really its about having a humble soul, having inner strength.”

Today his main focus is helping beginners to come up in the system and to complete his own training. He says this helps him be better too. He says, “When you know something and you teach it to another person, it’s like you get to teach yourself twice, which always helps.”

The things he learned here transfer to the rest of his life. Accepting when things go wrong, he learned not to panic but learn there’s always some way to fix the situation, just like in training and chi sau.

Sifu Matt introduced him to meditation too and that was something he’s stayed with since day one because it makes a difference in his kung fu and in his normal, every day life.

Every year he renews his resolution to train for another year, to stay in shape, to defend himself if necessary. He really loves that Sifu Matt doesn’t hold back in the way he teaches him and everyone else. He always shows him the right way in training.

“I never thought I’d be helping out in teaching but when Sifu asked me to do it I said I would try my best and now I help others learn and advance in their own practice. Its an honor to help out like that.”

Glad to have you with us Humberto.